Mechanical doll-actuating mechanism.



G. L. CARRUTHERS & J. S. HOLDERNESS.

MECHANICAL DOLL ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION man MAR. 20. 1916.

LLWJYUM. Q Patented June 20,1916.

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GEORGE L. CARRU'I'HERS AND JAMES S. HOLDERNESS, OF PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS.

MECHANICAL DOIJTJACTUATING MECHANISM.

Application filed March 20, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Gnonen L. GARRUTII- .uns and JAMES S. Honnnmvnss, citizens of the United States, residing at Pine Blufl, in the county of Jefferson and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Doll- Actuating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to mechanically operated dolls, and has particular reference to means for effecting the movement of a plurality of dolls, in a highly interest ing, attractive and realistic manner.

An important object of the invention is to provide means of the above mentioned character, which are simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, the figure is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention, the casing being shown in section.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral. 5 designates a casing, within which are arranged stamlards 6, having their upper ends apertured for receiving horizontal rotatable shafts 7. The shafts 7 carry rolls 8, upon which is mounted a flexible endless belt 9, as shown.

Rigidly connected. with one shaft 7 is a sprocket wheel 10, engaging a sprocket chain 11, in turn engaging a sprocket wheel 12. The sprocket wheel 12 is driven by the armature shaft of a motor 13 or the like.

Arranged above the top of the casing 5 are mechanical dolls or figures 14, having pivoted legs and arms 15 and 16, as shown. Each of these dancing dolls is rigidly mounted upon a vertical reciproeatorv rod 17, passing through an opening 18. The rod 17 carries a stop element 19, rigidly secured thereto, to positively limit the downward movement of the rod 17 Rigidly attached to the lower ends of the rods 17 are tapered or Wedge-shaped tripmembers 20, adapted to contact with co- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 261, MW e.

Serial No. 85,471.

acting tapered or wedge-shaped tripnnemhere 21, which are rigidly secured to the endless belt 9, to travel therewith.

A particular advantagein employing the endless belt in combination with the tripmembers is that the arrangement of the tripmembers upon the endless belt may be widely varied, causing the mechanical dolls to be simultaneously actuated or operated. in any desired order. In the drawings, the trip-members 20 and 21 are shown as having the distance between them decreasing in the direction of travel of the endless belt, thus causing the dolls to be actuated in succession. While this is the preferred arrangement, the invention is not necessarily restricted to the same.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted. to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a support, upstanding reciprocatory rods extending through openings in the support, dancing dolls having pivoted limbs connected with the rods, an endless belt having trip-members to move the rods, and means to drive the endless belt.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a. casing, substantially vertical rods operating through openings in the top of the casing, dancing dolls attached to the upper ends of the rods and embodying pivoted topics at this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner at Patents, Washington, D. G." 

